PBZ News

TUESDAY, Nov. 1, 2016 – Shoppers are often confused by food labels that warn of potential allergens, and the consequences can be serious, new research suggests. "Up to 40 percent of consumers who either themselves have a food allergy or a child with a food allergy are purchasing products with precautionary allergen labels," said lead researcher Dr. Ruchi Gupta. She is a pediatrician at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. The most misunderstood food labels, the researchers found, are those that say "may contain" or "manufactured on shared equipment." While those labels may sound like the foods aren't as dangerous as those that say a product definitely contains a particular allergen, that's not the case, Gupta stressed. Gupta and her colleagues conducted an online survey of more than 6,600 respondents in the United States and Canada. Those answering the questions either ... Read more

-- If pets make you sniffle, sneeze, itch and cough, there are things you can do that don't include getting rid of Fido or Fluffy. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology recommends: Limiting how much time you spend around your pet. Taking nasal spray, an antihistamine or bronchodilator, as directed by your allergist. Talking to your doctor about allergy shots. Don't let the pet into your bedroom. Always wash your hands immediately after touching your pet. Give the pet a bath once weekly. Use a high-efficiency vacuum or HEPA air filter at home. Read more

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 12, 2016 – Many parents of children with food allergies mistakenly believe they are allergic, too, a new study finds. The study included parents who said they, like their kids, had food allergies. But fewer than one-third of the parents tested positive for food allergies. The study was published Oct. 12 in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. "Either people haven't been tested and are assuming an allergy from a previous reaction to a food, or they haven't been tested properly and may not truly have an allergy. Allergy testing, including blood and skin prick testing, is not always reliable," co-lead author Dr. Melanie Makhija said in a journal news release. The study included nearly 2,500 parents whose children had food allergies. Of these, almost 14 percent of parents said they themselves had a food allergy. But when those parents were tested, researchers found ... Read more

MONDAY, Oct. 10, 2016 – Halloween can be really scary for kids with asthma and allergies – and for their parents – unless they take precautions, an allergist advises. "Keep certain common sense tips in mind as you prepare for the holiday," said Bryan Martin, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). "A little preparation can ensure your little ones don't suffer from allergic reactions or asthma attacks," Martin said in an ACAAI news release. To help parents prepare, he offered these six tips: Masks can be scary. For kids with asthma, try to choose a costume that doesn't require a mask. If a child insists on one, it should not be tight-fitting or obstruct breathing. Halloween makeup sometimes causes allergic reactions. Use only high-quality, hypoallergenic makeup, and test it on a small patch of skin in advance to see if it triggers a reaction. Skip ... Read more

THURSDAY, Aug. 11, 2016 – When you're enjoying the great outdoors, be on the lookout for poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. The urushiol oil in their sap can cause itching, a red rash and blisters. These symptoms can appear from a few hours to several days after exposure, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Learn what these plants look like so you can avoid them. The old saying "Leaves of three, let it be" is a helpful reminder for poison ivy and poison oak. But it's not foolproof – the form may vary depending on the type of plant you encounter. Poison sumac, meanwhile, usually has clusters of 7 to 13 leaves, according to the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. If you're working in areas with these plants, wear long sleeves, long pants tucked into boots and impermeable gloves. Wash garden tools and gloves regularly. Wash pets if they may ... Read more

MONDAY, July 11, 2016 – If your kid's nail-biting or thumb-sucking habit drives you nuts, you'll be happy to hear that a new study suggests those habits may have a health benefit. Children who suck their thumb or bite their nails past preschool age may be less prone to allergic reactions when they reached adolescence, researchers said. What's more, the study found that the protective effects seemed to last into adulthood. Still no one is suggesting that kids be encouraged to take up the habits, said senior researcher Dr. Robert Hancox, of the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. With thumb-sucking, in particular, there's some concern that it can interfere with the alignment of the teeth as they come in. "We don't wish to dismiss these concerns," Hancox said. "But," he added, "if a child has a habit that is difficult to break, maybe there is some consolation in the fact that ... Read more

WEDNESDAY, June 15, 2016 – Up to 40 percent of children in the United States have nasal allergies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. These kids likely have persistent sneezing, along with a stuffy or runny nose. These symptoms – known as allergic rhinitis – are more likely to develop if one or both parents have allergies, the agency noted. Nasal allergies can be caused by outdoor allergens such as plant pollens (seasonal allergies) or indoor allergens such as mold, dust mites and pet dander. If your child has seasonal allergies, pay attention to pollen counts and try to keep him or her inside when pollen levels are high, the FDA suggests. In the spring and summer, during the grass pollen season, pollen levels are highest in the evening. In the late summer and early fall, during ragweed pollen season, pollen levels are highest in the morning. Some molds may also be seasonal. ... Read more

-- Think you've had a summer cold? Summer allergies might actually be to blame. Here are some warning signs of allergy, courtesy of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology: Dark circles below the eyes. Swollen adenoids that cause the face to look tired and droopy. A nasal crease, which is a line that forms on the bridge of the nose. Breathing through the mouth due to nasal congestion. Read more

FRIDAY, April 29, 2016 – If you're unlucky enough to suffer a jellyfish sting, new research says that heat is better than cold for easing the pain. The team at the University of Hawaii at Manoa noted that jellyfish stings are a growing health problem worldwide. But, there has been disagreement over how best to treat and manage the painful stings. "People think ice will help because jelly stings burn and ice is cold," study author Christie Wilcox, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Hawaii's School of Medicine, said in a university news release. "And if you Google it, many sites – even those considered reputable – will tell you to put ice on a sting to dull the pain. But research to date has shown that all marine venoms are highly heat sensitive, thus hot water or hot packs should be more effective than cold packs or ice," she explained. In an attempt to resolve the ongoing ... Read more

TUESDAY, April 19, 2016 – Over-the-counter allergy medications may worsen symptoms of restless legs syndrome, a neurologist contends. People with the syndrome experience uncomfortable sensations and strong urges to move their legs, which can be painful and disrupt sleep, according to Dr. William Ondo. He is director of the Movement Disorders Clinic at Houston Methodist Hospital. Nearly 12 million people in the United States have restless legs syndrome, according to the American Sleep Association. "Patients with restless legs syndrome already have difficulty sleeping as their symptoms tend to worsen at night or with rest, but sedating antihistamines ... can intensify the symptoms," Ondo said in a hospital news release. Many people take sedating antihistamines to treat sneezing, runny nose and other symptoms of seasonal allergies. "We don't yet understand why sedating antihistamines ... Read more

FRIDAY, April 15, 2016 – Spring allergy season is here, so if you know your triggers you can start reducing your symptoms, experts say. You may believe pollen is the culprit. But, other substances such as mold may be involved in your allergies as well, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. The college says more than two-thirds of people with spring allergies actually have symptoms all year long. Here are some of the experts' tips for keeping your sniffles and sneezes at bay during allergy season: Monitor pollen and mold counts. This information is often included in weather reports. Keep windows and doors shut at home and in your car during allergy season, and try to stay inside at midday and during the afternoon, when pollen counts are highest. When mowing the lawn or doing other outdoor chores, wear a N95 filter mask rated by the U.S. National Institute ... Read more

-- A family member with a food allergy deserves serious attention to help protect against an allergic reaction. But does that mean you should ban the problem food? Consider these questions, courtesy of the Food Allergy Research and Education website: How have you handled accidental exposure and allergic reactions in the past? How tough would it be on all other family members if the food were not allowed at home? What ages are children living at home, and how many are there? Will banning the food affect the quality of life? How will you teach the allergic child to avoid the problem food outside the home if it's banned at home? Read more

SUNDAY, March 20, 2016 – Tree pollen season has arrived, but there are a number of ways allergy sufferers can prevent or control their symptoms, an expert says. Mid-February is when blooming trees begin to flower. By the time the blossoms have fallen in April, grass pollen season is well underway. This is followed by mid-summer and fall allergens, such as ragweed, according to Dr. Jeffrey Culp. He is an assistant professor of medicine and an allergist in the asthma, sinus and allergy program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, in Nashville, Tenn. Some allergens stick around all year long, such as pet dander, dust mites and mold, he added. Most people aren't allergic to everything, Culp said, and there are a number of ways people can deal with both indoor and outdoor allergens. The first is doing everything possible to avoid allergens, he suggested. "This can take different forms. ... Read more

WEDNESDAY, March 16, 2016 – This could be a bad spring allergy season and people with allergies need to be prepared, an expert warns. "With the crazy up and down weather, some parts of the country could see worse allergy-provoking conditions. There is likely to be a pollen superburst this season, so sufferers should get ready," Dr. Jordan Josephson, a sinus specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said in a hospital news release. "It promises to be a nasty spring," he added. It's crucial to deal with allergy symptoms immediately, according to Josephson. "Allergies left untreated can cause sinus swelling leading to chronic sinusitis. Allergies can also affect your digestive tract. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can be a direct response of the allergic response. So allergies can seriously affect your quality of life. Just ask any allergy or sinus sufferer," he said. ... Read more

TUESDAY, Feb. 9, 2016 – Allergy shots can still benefit seniors with allergies, a new study suggests. The study included 60 people with hay fever between the ages of 65 and 75 who were given either allergy shots or a placebo for three years. Those who received the allergy shots had a 55 percent reduction in symptoms and a 64 percent decrease in their use of allergy relief medication, according to the study results. They were published Feb. 9 in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. The researchers, led by Dr. Andrzej Bozek of Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland, said diagnosis and management of hay fever in seniors can be challenging because they tend to have other health conditions. The researchers added that their findings show that an aging immune system doesn't significantly reduce the effectiveness of allergy shots. While allergy shots are known to benefit ... Read more